Canace

Canace was the sister of Athamas, Cretheus, Deioneus, Magnes, Perieres, Salmoneus, Sisyphus, Alcyone, Calyce, Peisidice, PerimedeApollodorus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+1.7.3&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=1:chapter=7&highlight=Canace 1.7.3] Arne and possibly Tanagra.Pausanias, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+9.20.1&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160:book=:chapter=&highlight=Tanagra 9.20.1] As the lover of Poseidon, she was the mother of Aloeus, Epopeus, Hopleus, Nireus and Triopas.Apollodorus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+1.7.4&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=1:chapter=7&highlight=Canace 1.7.4]; Callimachus, Hymn to Demeter [https://topostext.org/work/125#96 99]: Triopas mentioned Canace as his mother by Poseidon

In ancient Greek mythology, Canace is often described as a lover of Poseidon, and the mother of multiple of his children. However, in another, more famous myth, Canace was not Poseidon's lover, but was instead in a relationship with her brother Macareus.

In this tradition, the pair are the children of a different Aeolus, the lord of the winds (or the Tyrrhenian king),These two are barely distinct characters in any case; see the article on Aeolus for discussion and his wife Amphithea. Canace fell in love with Macareus and the pair shared an incestuous relationship, which resulted in her getting pregnant. Macareus promised to marry Canace but never did. Eventually Canace gave birth privately, accompanied only by her nurse. When Canace instructed the nurse to carry the baby from the room in a basket under the pretense that it was a sacred ritual offering, the nurse had to pass through the throne room where Aeolus sat. Just before she was able to make it out of the room, the baby began to cry, alerting Aeolus. Upon discovering the child, the king was outraged and compelled Canace to commit suicide as punishment, and sent her a sword with which she was to stab herself. Canace then committed suicide and the newborn child was exposed to die.{{Cite web |title=Commentary on the Heroides of Ovid: Canace Macareo |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0061:poem=11 |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Perseus Digital Library}}

This story was told by Latin poet Ovid in the Heroides, a selection of eighteen story-poems that pretend to be letters from mythological women to their lovers and ex-lovers.Ovid, Heroides [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ov.+Ep.+Sapph.+11&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0085:book=:chapter=&highlight=Canace 11] The story is also briefly referred to by HyginusHyginus, Fabulae [https://topostext.org/work/206#238 238]: Aeolus killed Canace; [https://topostext.org/work/206#242 242]: Macareus killed himself after Canace's death & [https://topostext.org/work/206#243 243]: Canace kills herself over her forbidden love for Macareus and retold by Pseudo-Plutarch, in whose account Macareus kills himself over the matter as well.Pseudo-Plutarch, Parallela minora [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Plut.+Para.+28&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0219:book=:chapter=&highlight=Macareus 28] It was also the subject of Euripides's lost play Aeolus, on which the extant versions appear to be based.

Canace's story was also put to the stage in the verse tragedy Canace (1588), by Italian playwright Sperone Speroni, as well as being the subject of a tale in Gower's Confessio Amantis. She also gave her name to the heroine of Geoffrey Chaucer's Squire's Tale.

File:BnF Français 874 fol. 47v.jpg

1. According to Pliny the Elder (35.99), a certain Aristeides from Thebes painted Canace dying from love to her brother ({{lang|grc|ἀναπαυομένην}} {{lang|la|propter fratris amorem}}). This image, not preserved, might be dated between 340 and 290 BCE.LIMC V.1, p. 951.
2. Macareus' and Canace's story is found on a hydria from Lucania, now in the archeological museum of Bari. It is thought to illustrate some scenes from Euripides' lost tragedy Aeolus.Reproduced in LIMC I.2. [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-74ffbc8383898-4 See on Digital LIMC]
3. There is also a fresco from Rome, making part of a series of women personnages (the others being Pasiphaë, Phaedra etc.). Canace is depicted with a sword in her hand. The series might be a copy of some Hellenistic painting.Reproduced in LIMC V.2. [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-74347f1ffd4f0-d See on Digital LIMC]

{{reflist}}

• Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0021 Greek text available from the same website].
• Callimachus, Hymns translated by Alexander William Mair (1875-1928). London: William Heinemann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 1921. [https://topostext.org/work/120 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
• Callimachus, Works. A.W. Mair. London: William Heinemann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 1921. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0481 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
• Hesiod, Catalogue of Women from Homeric Hymns, Epic Cycle, Homerica translated by Evelyn-White, H G. Loeb Classical Library Volume 57. London: William Heinemann, 1914. [http://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodCatalogues.html Online version at theio.com]
• Hyginus, Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. [https://topostext.org/work/206 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
• Pausanias, Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. {{ISBN|0-674-99328-4}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0160 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library]
• Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio. 3 vols. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0159 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
• Plutarch, Moralia with an English Translation by Frank Cole Babbitt. Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press. London. William Heinemann Ltd. 1936. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0219 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0217 Greek text available from the same website].
• Publius Ovidius Naso, The Epistles of Ovid. London. J. Nunn, Great-Queen-Street; R. Priestly, 143, High-Holborn; R. Lea, Greek-Street, Soho; and J. Rodwell, New-Bond-Street. 1813. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0085%3Apoem%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]

Category:Princesses in Greek mythology

Category:Aeolides

Category:Mythological Thessalians

Category:Thessalian mythology

Category:Suicides in Greek mythology

Category:Women of Poseidon

Category:Mythological people involved in incest

Category:Infanticide